Mistborn #01 The Final Empire

Metal offered any hope. But I can’t make it work! That’s why I had to go back to the palace. The Lord Ruler’s hiding something in that room—I can feel it. I can’t help thinking that if we knew what it was, we’d be able to stop him.”
    “You didn’t have to take Vin with you.”
    “She followed me,” Kelsier said. “I worried that she’d try to get in on her own if I left her. The girl has a headstrong streak, Dox—she hides it well, but she’s blasted stubborn when she wants to be.”
    Dockson sighed, then nodded quietly. “And we still don’t know what’s in that room.”
    Kelsier eyed the book Sazed had set on the table. The rainwater had marked it, but the tome was obviously designed to endure. It was strapped tightly to prevent water from seeping in, and the cover was of well-cured leather.
    “No,” Kelsier finally said. “We don’t.” But we do have that, whatever it is.
    “Was it worth it, Kell?” Dockson asked. “Was this insane stunt really worth nearly getting yourself—and the child—killed?”
    “I don’t know,” Kelsier said honestly. He turned to Dockson, meeting his friend’s eyes. “Ask me once we know whether or not Vin will live.”

THE END OF PART TWO

PART THREE

CHILDREN OF
A BLEEDING SUN

----

Many think that my journey started in Khlennium, that great city of wonder. They forget that I was no king when my quest began. Far from it.
I think it would do men well to remember that this task was not begun by emperors, priests, prophets, or generals. It didn’t start in Khlennium or Kordel, nor did it come from the great nations to the east or the fiery empire of the West.
It began in a small, unimportant town whose name would mean nothing to you. It began with a youth, the son of a blacksmith, who was unremarkable in every way—except, perhaps, in his ability to get into trouble.
It began with me.

    16

    W HEN V IN AWOKE, THE PAIN told her that Reen had beaten her again. What had she done? Had she been too friendly to one of the other crewmembers? Had she made a foolish comment, drawing the crewleader’s ire? She was to remain quiet, always quiet, staying away from the others, never calling attention to herself. Otherwise he would beat her. She had to learn, he said. She had to learn. . . .
    But, her pain seemed too strong for that. It had been a long time since she could remember hurting this much.
    She coughed slightly, opening her eyes. She lay in a bed that was far too comfortable, and a lanky teenage boy sat in a chair beside her bed.
    Lestibournes, she thought. That’s his name. I’m in Clubs’s shop.
    Lestibournes jumped to his feet. “You’re awaking!”
    She tried to speak, but just coughed again, and the boy hurriedly gave her a cup of water. Vin sipped it thankfully, grimacing at the pain in her side. In fact, her entire body felt like it had been pummeled soundly.
    “Lestibournes,” she finally croaked.
    “Notting as the now,” he said. “Kelsier wasing the hit with my name; changed it to Spook.”
    “Spook?” Vin asked. “It fits. How long have I been asleep?”
    “Two weeks,” the boy said. “Wait here.” He scrambled away, and she could hear him calling out in the distance.
    Two weeks? She sipped at the cup, trying to organize her muddled memories. Reddish afternoon sunlight shone through the window, lighting the room. She set the cup aside, checking her side, where she found a large white bandage.
    That’s where the Inquisitor hit me, she thought. I should be dead.
    Her side was bruised and discolored from where she’d hit the roof after falling, and her body bore a dozen other nicks, bruises, and scrapes. All in all, she felt absolutely terrible.
    “Vin!” Dockson said, stepping into the room. “You’re awake!”
    “Barely,” Vin said with a groan, lying back against her pillow.
    Dockson chuckled, walking over and sitting on Lestibournes’s stool. “How much do you remember?”
    “Most everything, I think,” she said. “We fought our way into the palace, but there were Inquisitors. They chased us, and Kelsier fought—” She stopped, looking at Dockson. “Kelsier? Is he—”
    “Kell’s fine,” Breeze said. “He came out of the incident in far better shape than you did. He knows the palace fairly well, from the plans we made three years ago, and he . . .”
    Vin frowned as Dockson trailed off. “What?”
    “He said the Inquisitors didn’t seem very focused on killing him. They left one to chase him,